Meanwhile, police report a stop in the growth of drug-related crime, and the distribution of clean needles and syringes has kept infectious diseases in check.
For instance, the number of HIV infections linked with the intravenous use of drugs declined to fewer than ten last year. In 1999 the number was nearly 100.
Officials estimate that there are still between 16,000 and 21,000 problem users of drugs, including between 4,000 and 6,000 with opiate dependency. Finding treatment for them is difficult because the recent upsurge in the use of alcohol has increased the demand for alcohol rehabilitation services.
